OBJECTIVE: With advances in peripheral nerve stimulation technology, there has been an emergence of new minimally invasive techniques to provide neurostimulation therapies for chronic pain. This technical note describes the utilization of ultrasonography for percutaneous placement of peripheral nerve stimulation leads at the sciatic, femoral, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves. METHODS: Ultrasound can be utilized to localize a specific nerve, view neighboring soft tissue anatomy, and plan a needle trajectory. Various ultrasound techniques and transducer orientations allow for multiple options for lead placement relative to the targeted nerve. CONCLUSIONS: The option of ultrasound-guided percutaneous technique for neurostimulation lead placement allows this treatment modality to be made available to more patients with chronic pain in specific nerve distributions.
